‘An alarming trend’: Calgary police, city officials launch traffic safety campaign

Calgary police say we are on the wrong road when it comes to driving in our city, with fatal crashes following an upward trend.

Calgary police and the city are working together to change course on a disturbing trend of fatal crashes.

Police say 29 Calgarians lost their lives in fatal traffic crashes in 2024 – the highest number of annual deaths in 10 years.

So far this year, 27 people have died on Calgary roads, officials say.

“This is an alarming trend that absolutely cannot continue,” said Supt. Jodi Gach of the Calgary Police Service.

“This isn’t just about statistics. These numbers are people—people who will never return home to their families again.”

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In order to combat the rising number of traffic deaths, CPS and the City of Calgary are launching a campaign called Drive to Zero.

The initiative consists of a three-part video series released over the next year, telling the stories of one preventable tragedy from multiple perspectives.

Officials say the goal is to express how a single traffic incident can have a ripple effect, with the hope of a positive change in driving behaviour that could save lives.

“The impact of serious-injury and fatal collisions is deeply felt by their loved ones and the community as a whole, including family, friends, colleagues, classmates, teammates, first responders, medical professionals and more. This means road safety is a shared responsibility, and we need all Calgarians to do their part to ensure everyone gets home safe every day,” said Gach.

More information about the Drive to Zero campaign is available online.

Of 2024’s 29 fatal traffic crashes, 13 involved pedestrians or motorcyclists.

As of this summer, 30 per cent of fatal crashes involved unsafe or excessive speed.